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Knowing When to Seek Treatment for Your Child

When to seek treatment for your child or teen

Knowing when to seek treatment for a mental health disorder is important for parents and families. Parents are often the first to suspect that their child or teen is challenged by feelings, behaviors, or environmental conditions that cause him or her to act disruptive, rebellious, or sad. This may include problems with relationships with friends or family members, school, sleeping, eating, substance abuse, emotional expression, development, coping, attentiveness, and responsiveness. It's also important to know that people of different ages will show different symptoms and behaviors. Getting to know the common inappropriate behaviors of younger children and those of older, teen children will often help to identify any problems early when they can be treated more easily. It's important for families who suspect a problem in one, or more, of these areas to seek treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for mental health disorders is available.

What are the symptoms of a potential problem in the younger child?

These are the most common symptoms of a potential emotional, behavioral, or developmental problem in a younger child. These symptoms require a psychiatric evaluation. Symptoms may include:

Significant decline in school performance or poor grades (even though the child studies and tries hard to succeed)

The symptoms of a potential emotional, behavioral, or developmental problem may look like other conditions. Always talk with your child's healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of a potential problem in the older child or adolescent?

These are the most common symptoms of a potential emotional, behavioral, or developmental problem in an older child or teen. These symptoms require a psychiatric evaluation. However, each teen may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Significant decline in school performance or poor grades (even though the adolescent studies and tries hard to succeed)

Saint Peter's University Hospital is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter's is a state-designated children's hospital and a regional perinatal center, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and an affiliate of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.